Intercultural German Studies and Multilingualism

Multilingualism and diversity enrich every society and every institution. Yet they pose challenges that have to be addressed and managed at the same time. Our applied MA programme in Intercultural German Studies and Multilingualism educates students to become experts in the areas of language, cultures, and communication. Students of the programme will gain profound knowledge not only on German language and literature and how to teach them but also on multilingualism and interculturality. They will be capable of managing intercultural, multilingual communication, and they will be able to convey cultural and linguistic skills and insights to a variety of different audiences. The programme is suited for students with a background in German Studies, German as a Foreign Language/Second Language, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Cultural Studies, or similar. It addresses people with a keen interest in multilingualism and diversity who want their studies to be of practical value. The first semester provides the theoretical basis of the programme and introduces the students to the theories, approaches, and methods used to analyse and scrutinise language, literature, culture and diversity. In module 1, students acquire the knowledge and skills to analyse literature in a global context. Module 2 provides the linguistic theories and methods to analyse multilingualism from cognitive, from interactional, and from sociolinguistic perspectives, and provides fundamental insights into L2 acquisition. Module 3 focuses on cultural studies and furnishes the students with concepts and theories that explain the complexities of cultures and diversity in a globalised world. In module 4, students are introduced to research methods, and they take a course on public relations. The second semester focuses on theories on the acquisition of cultural and linguistic skills and on methods of teaching language and culture in super-diverse environments. In module 5, students gain the expertise to teach literature and cultures in different settings. In module 6, they are confronted with challenges and possibilities that teaching and learning of languages in multilingual, multicultural spaces offer, and they acquire indispensable didactic skills to manage multilingual and diverse language classrooms. Continuing with module 4, they also learn how to manage projects, and how to gain intercultural competence. During the third semester, students apply their newly gained knowledge in internships. We offer a range of possibilities for doing internships in Germany or abroad at one of our partner institutions. During the third semester, we also provide a range of courses that equip students with practical skills and knowledge: courses on public relations, on marketing and advertising, on adult education, and publishing, for example. The fourth semester is dedicated to writing the Master's thesis, accompanied by research seminars. The research and writing process is closely monitored to make sure that students are provided with the guidance and assistance they need to complete their studies.